Women Shooters, Guns, Accessories, Issues, Politics

Finally, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the people. It’s about time.  In a 5 to 4 ruling the Justices voted to uphold your individual rights as a gun owner, and strike down the ban on guns in Washington, D.C.

It’s a miracle. Of sorts. The NRA and various pro 2nd Ammendment groups dug in and fought a ferocious battle to preserve YOUR rights.  Bless  them one and all.

But it’s not over yet. No doubt there will be follow up legislation by the truly uninformed to attempt to overturn this decision.

Meanwhile, I urge you to get involved. If you’ve never written your Senator or Congressman, now is the time to do so. Keep pressure on. If you can join the NRA or Gun Owners of America.

Lou

www.nra.com

http://www.gunowners.org/

Redemption is sweet.

My last shooting attempt was pretty pathetic. A total wash. Too windy. Dirt flying everywhere, targets standing up like infernal dandelions that just won’t die no matter how much Round-Up you pour on their annoying fluzzy-topped heads.

Finally out of my slump and back on the range, popping targets right, left, sideways and hanging from my toes (mentally). S&W revolver performing magnificently, the Baby Desert Eagle–flawless. My o my how I love that Baby.

Speaking of the Baby Desert Eagle, it’s just too big and heavy to carry, so I’ve been looking around for a semi-auto that’s a bit more user friendly to smallish women.

Emailed my buddies at Maccabee Arms and found Israel is putting out a new beauty named the BUL Cherokee. Smaller and lighter than the BDE with the same superb features.

I can’t wait to get my hands on it. MM mmm.

Have a gander:

Nice warm day, a slight breeze, great day for shooting. Packed up the gear, guns, targets and all that good stuff.

Got to the range and that slight breeze morphed into gale force wind with 5-inch canine teeth.

That’s a slight exaggeration, but really I should have taken my contacts out.

Damn good thing I wear wrap around sunglasses or those contacts would be sandpaper about now.

Back to shooting. Or not shooting. Along with the wind came the not so delightful problem of what to do with my hair, it goes every which way–predominantly in my face–when the wind blows.

At the last second I grabbed a hair band and put it in a ponytail. All well and good except the 1/3 that refuses to stay put.

A casual glance into the gear box and lo and behold, praise the Lord and pass the ammo! We had 1″ blue painters tape in the gear box.

So I ripped off a good 18″ and faced into the tornadic wind, allowing my locks to blow in the breeze, risking instant scalping from this treacherous weather condition.

It was perfect, even if it did look a tad weird. Someday I’ll post a photo so ya’ll can have a laugh.

Really-back to shooting. I didn’t hit a darn thing with any pistol. Pathetic. Not even close. Saw lots of sand kick up. Saw no targets fall over or explode.

Nuts.

Switched over to the Walther G-22, .22 cal rifle. It’s light, fun, quick. It also has that miraculous scope with a red dot! (Insert *wooo* crowd noise here.) Finally, plastic bottles, and a bright blue detergent bottle fell over, popped up, got hit again and again and again.

Vindication is sweet!

…and it’s cheap ammo.

…that’s what I kept telling myself the first time I went out shooting.

With all due respect, the wind was blowing at a balmy 35mph with 50mph gusts. Not unusual for my part of the country–but it’s damned obnoxious!

*This would be a good time to mention eye protection.* Ah yes, those lovely goggles, so scratched up by the infernal wind it’s hard to see the dot sights on your gun much less the ginormous target in front of you.  However, they are helpful for keeping sand out of your eyes.

I’ve been listening to various folks talk about the type of target they prefer.  From paper, to metal, to bowling and golf balls. Fun stuff!

Out at our favorite range, someone thoughtfully left an old van for a rather imposing, but fun, target. A year later there was nothing left that was recognizable.

Yeah! It was fun hitting various parts of the van, but a smaller target  helps your accuracy levels. There are a number of paper targets that’ll do the trick. You can give yourself a pat on the back for first hitting anywhere ON the target, then another for hitting several rounds in a tight area.

Actually, celebrate and forget the pat on the back when you get to this point. Celebrate BIG! Enjoy the moment. Then go out and practice some more.

I haven’t tried this yet, but I will (expect to hear a loud yahooooo! when it happens)…get some beat up golf balls and spray paint them neon colors. Plop some goop on the top, affix string, hang, and aim.

Blammo! Vaporize the golf ball. Just don’t forget to come back and tell me when you do it.

And of course, celebrate BIG some more!

Since you’re going to come back and brag to me about it, you might as  well celebrate with me and send chocolate!

Your life is threatened by a thug, you’ve drawn your pistol, just don’t let him/her get this close:

Click here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xKKYPRnrhSc

Sometimes the most well-intentioned public safety planning just falls flatter than a cream puff when the oven door’s slammed.

This has to be one of those.

Of course we all want safety. But thinking back to the recent mall shooting in Omaha, one must wonder when posted signs do more harm than good.

The more aware I become of my surroundings and the inherent danger posed by criminals, the more I realize how vulnerable the public is…whether here in America or in another country.

Years ago, I was as anti-gun as they come. I’m still not a hunting fan, though I suppose if I were starving, I’d probably shoot anything on 4 legs to survive. I don’t like the idea though. And yes, I’m a carnivore and no it doesn’t bother me that I buy meat in a grocery store.

Back in those days “gun free zones” would have made sense to me.

A trip to our beloved neighbors to the North came about and when I crossed the border into Canada, I have to say I felt instant relaxation. It was a false sense of security (though a welcome one!)

It was knowing that Canadian citizens are not armed citizens that did it…then.

Things change, people mature, and sometimes you realize you’ve been living in a cocoon of lovely daydreams and comfort.

Now that I’ve taken up the habit of spitting shells out the end of a pistol at a target range (no furry critters in sight)…I realize “Gun Free Zones” really are an open invitation to criminals.

I wish it weren’t so.

I found this on the ‘net. No idea who made it, but my hat’s off to you.

Confession time.

I’m having a very difficult time with my friend here…Wordpress Blog.

Just found out yesterday that comments weren’t working without lots of foo-de-rah on your part–my apologies.

Also, I can’t seem to get Blogroll going.

Which gives me a great tension relieving idea…I’ll make a target out of the WordPress logo!

Just kidding, WP!

Well, maybe not, heh!

I really hate running out of bullets.

The feeling’s something like the anti-climax after a birthday or Christmas. Just a bit of a let-down feeling.

If you’re a target shooter, you’ll know what I mean. It means it’s time to go home and clean your guns. It’s not bad–it’s just more fun to shoot than clean.

If you’re a gun owner you’re probably aware of the onslaught of anti-gun legislation that’s fixin’ to hit the fan.

The situation is pretty frightening. I won’t go into it other than to post a link regarding legislation in various states. Click here for more info.

A few moments ago I was browsing a forum and stumbled on a post by a fellow who owns a gun shop and shooting range. He’s set records for firearms and ammo sales but has recently noted like many in similar situations that he’s not able to get shipments as he once could.

Same with our local gun shop. Doug tells me he simply can not get what he’s looking for. He can’t get anything from Bushmaster and other manufacturers. Glock is trying to decide whether to step up manufacture, but the powers that be are concerned about the elections.

Hey, I’m not interested in a political rant here, but one must realize the outcome of the election plus the legislation on the board (above link) poses serious questions about our Constitutional right to bear arms - and have ammo too.

Be afraid when your government tries to make such sweeping changes to your Constitution. It’s important. Do what you can to support organizations like the NRA.

I have no reason to suggest NRA other than their superb efforts to keep our rights intact.

Meanwhile, keep hitting that target.

~Lou

As much as I love guns, as much as I enjoy shooting them, I hope to never have to use one in self defense or defense of another person. It’s an abhorrent thought. I’d rather smack the snot out of milk jugs or beer cans.

None-the-less situations happen.

There are a few things you need to know on a gut and mind level. Things you must know. Things you must always remember to stay safe and to keep from being irresponsible with that bad boy tucked in your waistband or pretty little purse.

The most potent weapon in your personal arsenal is your brain.

It doesn’t matter if you have one handgun or a collection that would make gun lovers green with envy. If you don’t use your brain, you’re in deep muck.

First, there’s a problem of identifying a potential risk to your person.

That is, someone intending to harm you might not look like a threat. There’s simply no way to tell. It may be a thuggish looking person, or a skinny waif of a child.

Since there’s no stereotypical “bad guy” in reality, alarm bells in your head scream when behavioral cues alert you to a potentially violent situation.

If a bad guy is coming toward you, perhaps yelling, or just staring hard…you’d best realize something brutal is about to happen.

Alarm bells in your head will be clanging louder than Big Ben. Your perception will quickly close down - your focus on the immediate danger will cause tunnel vision.

You won’t notice anything except the threat. You must assess the immediate surroundings quickly, before tunnel vision sets in.

Be alert to these cues:

• The environment
• The stranger exhibits aggressive or erratic behavior
• The stranger is quickly advances toward you
• The stranger yells or stares hard at you
• The stranger’s hands are not visible
• More than one potential attacker
• Your gut feeling - and it ain’t good!

In the end what will matter most is that you only draw and use your weapon if, and only if you are in fear of losing your life or the life of a family member.

Ok, enough gloomy stuff, get out on the range and rip through a box of bullets.

Annoyed by a situation?

Write the grievance on a piece of paper and tape it to your target.

KaBOOM.

Great stress reliever.

Lou “I hate when I run outta bullets” Collins

If you’re considering buying a handgun, be prepared for a multitude of questions from well-meaning friends and family members.

Half of them will think you’ve lost what’s left of your mind. Some will slowly back away with eyes buggin’ out of their heads, arms spread wide as they press backwards against any substantial surface.

The few that support you will ask, “what kind?”

This is the big question.

I’ve had 5 handguns. The first was a thoughtful gift. A small, hammerless revolver.

However, the thing kicked like a mule and bloodied the web between my thumb and forefinger. I’d tell you what it was if I could remember–I’ve worked to forget this thing. I hated it and sold it.

Second was a purchase of a Glock 9mm. Jammed frequently, had quite a recoil, and I didn’t trust it.

Third was another hammerless revolver…let’s just say it went away as well.

Fourth. Mighty fine Smith and Wesson .38 revolver hammerless with an extended grip. Works just fine, hits what you’re aiming at–an important feature. But it’s not my favorite. Took me a while to figure out why…more on that in a minute.

Fifth. Surely this gun was made just for me. I spotted it in our local gun store. It was as if a light from heaven opened up and shone on this beauty. I couldn’t wait to hold it and feel the heft. I fell madly in love. And freaked out at the sticker price.

Bought it anyway.

It’s an Israeli made Baby Desert Eagle 9mm–but it’s no “baby”. The thing is huge. Concealing it isn’t even possible that I can tell. So I don’t carry it. The best part about it…I can hit the target every time. Right where I want the bullet to go.

Very little recoil, easy-to-load magazines. A powerful target-eating machine.

The problem is, it runs outta bullets too fast! Nuts!

Speaking of recoil, I don’t have the strongest grip, which presents a slight problem. I have to remind myself to bear down hard on that S&W revolver and make it behave.

In fact, it finally dawned on me why I wasn’t enamored with this gun–the recoil.

An epiphany occurred while driving through Central Texas–recoil isn’t a problem at all. If you’re faced with a situation you’d rather not be in, recoil won’t be on your mind.

So, how to choose your gun? Talk to the folks behind the counter at your local gun shop. Really talk to them. Ask as many questions as you can.

Handle several styles and models. Feel the balance of the gun in your hand. Turn it over and around; look at it from every angle. Ask about cleaning, disassembly, reassembly. Check the grips, does your little finger dangle off? If so, ask if extended grips are available.

Comfy? It’s probably the gun for you.

If your store has a gun range, ask if the gun you want to buy is available to test. Then go try it. Ask for help.

Don’t be afraid of it.

You are in control, the gun is not.

Most important, remember your best weapon is your mind.

After you buy your gun and tons of ammo get out on the range and gnaw through a hundred rounds.

Nothing like a target that looks like a ravenous mouse devoured it for breakfast.

Happy shooting,

Lou